Portable and collapsible baby bed



Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE BABY BED Harry L. Ehrenberg, Little Rock, Ark.

Application December 15, 1950, Serial No. 201,043

5 Claims.

This invention appertains to improvements in baby beds or similar articles of furniture.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a collapsible and adjustable baby bed, which is easily converted for use as a traveling bed or play pen for automobiles or other vehicles and which is easily folded for storage.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable article of furniture, which may be converted from a play pen into a baby bed and which is adjustable in height, so that it may be used as a bed for infants of various ages.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide means for p-ivotally attaching supporting legs to the opposing ends of the bottom side rails 1 of the crib and to provide means for lOcking the legs in a position parallel to the side rails and in spaced relation with the underside thereof, means being provided for locking the legs in a vertical position or at right angles to the side rails.

A further object of this invention is to provide telescopically arranged side and end slats, which are provided with means for locking the slats in adjusted extended positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide collapsible end structures, which are pivotally carried by the bottom and top side rails, the end structures being easily collapsed to a position interposed between the opposing bottom side rails and the opposing top side rails, so that the crib may be easily transported or stored.

These and ancillary objects and structural features of merit are attained by this invention, the preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred form of this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing one of the end structures in elevation;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line l4 of Figure 3, exemplifying the means for pivotally attaching the supporting legs to the side rails;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the crib, with parts of the top and bottom side rails broken away to show the telescopically arranged slats and means for mounting the slats on the side rails;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the crib in a collapsed position;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken 2 on line 'l'l of Figure 5, with the crib in a folded position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5, and,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an automobile, with the crib positioned therein, resting on the back seat.

With further reference to the accompanying drawings, the convertible and collapsible baby bed or play pen I0 is formed from a pair of bottom side rails l2 and Hi. Each of the bottom side rails is provided with longitudinally spaced sockets or recesses 16, which are formed in the upper edge of the rails and accommodate the solid ends it of tubular slats 20. The tubular slats 20 are mounted vertically on the opposing side rails and are provided with upper open ends 24 for the reception of solid slats 26. The slats 26 depend from the underside of a pair of top side rails 28 and 36, the upper side rails being formed with openings 32 for receiving the socketed upper ends of the slats 26.

The slats 26 are, thus, telescopically arranged with the tubular or sleeve-like slats 20 and the top side rails 28 and 30 are extensibly or telescopically connected to the bottom side rails i2 and M to form the opposing side structures of the crib.

Means is provided for locking the slats 20 and 26 in various extended positions, the locking means including bolts or similar headed fasteners 34, which are extended through transverse openings 36 formed in the upper ends of the end slats 38 and 40 on each of the bottom side rails I2 and I4. Longitudinally disposed or axially extending slots 42 are formed in the end slats M of the slats 23 and receive the bolts 36, wing nuts 46 being provided to lock the slotted slats 44 in various positions in the end slats 33 and 40 and thereby lock the slats 26 in various extended positions in the tubular slats 20.

A pair of bottom end rails 48 and 50 are provided and form the bottom frame for the opposing end structures, the bottom end rail 50 consisting of complementary bar members 52 and 54 which are hingedly connected together by a hinge 55, the bar members being hinged together at their inner adjoining ends. Similarly, the bar members 58 and of the bottom end rail 48 are hinged together at their inner joining ends by a hinge 62. Top end rails 64 and 66 are provided and overlie the bottom end rails, the top end rail 64 including bar members 68 and 10 which are hinged at their inner adjoining ends by a hinge 12. The top end rail 66 includes bar members 74 and I6 hingedly connected together at their inner adjoining ends by a hinge I8.

Means is provided for pivotally attaching the opposing bottom end rails and opposing top end rails to the adjoining ends of the bottom and top side rails, the means including L-shaped angular brackets 80. The vertical flanges 82 of the brackets are affixed by headed fasteners 8 to the inner surfaces of the bottom side rails and top side rails at the opposing ends of each of the side rails. The horizontal flanges 88 of the brackets projecting laterally from the side rails and the horizontal flanges of the top brackets lie in a plane above the upper edges of the opposing top side rails 28 and 30, while the horizontal flanges 88 of the bottom brackets SI lie in a common plane below the bottom edge or underside of the bottom side rails I2 and I I. Pivot pins 80 are carried by the horizontal flanges 8E and 88 of the upper and lower brackets and engage the outer ends of the bar members for both the bottom end rails and the top end rails. Thus, the bottom and top end rails are'collapsible about their hinged points, the outer ends of the bar members of each of the end rails pivoting about the pivots 99 from an open aligned position to a collapsed parallel position, as seen in Figure 6.

As seen in Figure 3, locking means 32 is provided for locking the ends in an open position, i

the locking means being carried by each of the top end rails and including a locking pin 94 carried by the bar member 38, as seen in Figure 3, and a pivoted latching member Q3 carried by the complementary bar member Id of the top end rail 68. A similar locking means is carried by the opposing top end rails 66.

A pair of bottom members 98 and IE8 are attached by hinges IE2 at their outer marginal edges to the opposing bottom side rails I2 and I4. A stop HM is fixed on the underside of the bottom member Iflil and projects beyond the inner free marginal edge thereof for seating the opposing edge of the bottom member 98. The bottom members, when in complementary horizontal position, as seen in Figure 3, are adapted to receive and support a mattress or mattress and spring, as desired. Brackets Ifit are carried by the bar members 58 and 60 of the bottom end rail 48 and similar brackets are carried by the opposing bottom end rail 56 for supporting the bottom members 98 and IE in a lowered position. The brackets I66 are provided with projecting horizontal flanges I68 on which the end edges of the bottom members 98 and IE3 rest.

Tubular slats IIE extend upwardly from the bottom end rails and are socketed, at their lower ends, in suitable openings or recesses formed in the bar members of the bottom end rails. Slats I I2 depend from the bar members of the top end rails and are telescopically arranged in the tubular slats I ID, in a manner similar to the telescopic arrangement of the tubular slats 28 and solid slats 26 of the side rails, as exemplified in Figure 5.

Supporting legs H4 are pivotally attached to the opposing ends of each of the bottom side rails and are adapted to be locked in positions parallel to the side rails and in vertical positions at-right angles to the side rails. Each of the supporting legs is attached to the ends of the side rails I2 and I4 .in an identical manner and, attention is directed to Figure 4, which constitutes a detailed showing of the means for mounting the supporting legs on the side rails.

A mounting block H6 is afiixed to the underside of the bottom side rail I2 and is formed with a curved outer and H8 and a flat top wall I20, which is in abutting relation to the underside of the side rail, and a fiat bottom wall I22. A right angular recess I24 is formed in the inner end of the block and is defined by flat walls I26 and I23 which are arranged at right angles to each other. A recess I39 is formed in the wall I26 and a similar recess I32 is formed in the wall I28.

L-shaped brackets I34 and I38 have their vertical flanges securely fixed to the opposing sides of the block I I8 and are provided with horizontal flanges I38, which overlie the recess I26 and are disposed in parallel relation. A bolt M5 is transversely disposed through the horizontal sections or flanges of the brackets and is provided with a wing nut 5 32. A longitudinal slot I44 is formed in the upper end of the leg H t and is disposed on the pin I43. A dowel I46 is formed on the upper end of the leg H t and is received in the recesses Itii and I32.

Thus, the supporting leg I it is swingable about the bolt or pin use from a horizontal position to a vertical position. When in a vertical position, the dowel I 38 is socketed in the socket or recess 33 and, when in a horizontal position, the dowel is received in the socket or recess I32. The dowel serves to rigidiiy the leg, either in a raised horizontal position or in a lowered vertical position, with the wing nut being provided on the pin or bolt lid for locking the leg in either position. It will be noted that when the legs are disposed in raised horizontal positions, the side surfaces IE8 of the legs will be flush with the bottom walls I22 of the mounting blocks. Thus, the bed may be converted into use as a play pen, with the surfaces I 32- of the raised legs serving as supporting feet.

In use, the bed can be seated on a supporting. surface, with the bed resting on the surfaces I43 of the legs or the legs can be locked in supporting vertical positions. The legs would be positioned in vertical position, with the dowels Mi; socketed in the openings I38, when the device is used as a bed.

When used either as a play pen or bed, the sides and ends are vertically adjustable, due to the telescopic arrangement of the side slats 23 and 26 and the telescopic arrangement of the end slats iii] and II2. The slats may be easily locked in various extended positions by the locking means carried by the end slats 4i] and it.

As seen in Figure 9, the bed may be easily positioned on the back seat of a vehicle, with the supporting legs carried by the bottom side rail I l locked in a horizontal position parailel to side rail IE and resting on the seat and the supporting legs carried by the opposing bottom side rail I2 locked in vertical supporting positions and resting on the floor. The lowered bottom members 88 and I68 will thus be disposed in a horizontal plane and the slats and H2 may be entirely nested within the tubular slats 2!] and lit and locked in such positions.

As seen in Figures 6 and '7, the bed is easily folded by raising the bottom members as and IE0 about their hinges IE2, finger openings I59 being provided and formed adjacent the free side edges of the bottom members, so that the bottom members may be easily raised. The locking means 92 is then released, so that the end rails may be moved about the hinges, connecting the inner adjoining ends of the bar members of each of the end rails together. The opposing sides are then moved together, as seen in Figure 6. If desired, the legs may be locked in horizontal positions for further compactness or may be left in vertical positions.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A collapsible baby bed comprising a pair of bottom side rails, a pair of top side rails overlying the bottom rails, telscopically arranged slats connecting the bottom side rails to the top side rails, means for locking said slats in adjusted positions, a pair of bottom end rails pivotally mounted on the adjoining ends of the bottom side rails, a pair of top end rails pivotally mounted on the adjoining ends of the top side rails, said bottom and top end rails being each made up of a pair of bar members hinged together for collapsed movement inwardly between the bottom and top side rails, extensible slats connecting the top and bottom end rails, a pair of bottom members hingedly carried by the bottom side rails, means for retaining the bottom members in a horizontal cooperating position for the reception of a mattress, supporting legs pivotally carried by the opposing ends of each of the bottom side rails and means for selectively locking said legs in positions parallel with the side rails or in extended positions at right angles to the side rails.

2. A collapsible baby bed comprising a pair of telescopic sides and telescopic ends, said ends having hingedly connected sections, means pivotally attaching said sections to the sides, a pair of complementary bottom members hingedly carried by the sides, means for retaining the bottom members in aligned horizontal positions for supporting a mattress, means for locking said sides and ends in selected extended positions, supporting legs pivotally attached to the sides, means for selectively locking said legs in horizontal or vertical positions.

3. A collapsible baby bed comprising a pair of telescopic sides and telescopic ends, said ends having hingedly connected sections, means pivotally attaching said sections to the sides, a pair of complementary bottom members hingedly carried by the sides, means for retaining the bottom members in aligned horizontal positions for supporting a mattress, means for locking said sides and ends in selected extended positions, supporting legs pivotally attached to the sides, means for selectively locking said legs in horizontal or vertical positions, said last means including supporting blocks fixed to the sides, each of said blocks being partially cut away to form a recess having straight walls in right angular relation, each of said walls having a socket formed therein, means pivotally attaching the upper ends of the legs in the recesses, and dowels formed on the upper ends of the legs and selectively engageable in the sockets.

4. A collapsible baby bed comprising a pair of telescopic sides and telescopic ends, said ends having hingedly connected sections, means pivotally attaching said sections to the sides, a pair of complementary bottom members hingedly carried by the sides, means for retaining the bottom members in aligned horizontal positions for supporting a mattress, means for locking said sides and ends in selected extended positions, supporting legs pivotally attached to the sides, means for selectively locking said legs in horizontal or vertical positions, said last means including supporting blocks fixed to the sides, each of said blocks being partially cut away to form a recess having straight walls in right angular relation, each of said walls having a socket formed therein, means pivotally attaching the upper ends of the legs in the recesses, dowels formed on the upper ends of the legs and selectively engageable 'in the sockets, said means pivotally attaching the legs including brackets fixed to the opposing sides of the blocks and projecting past the recesses, and a pin transversely disposed through the projecting portion of each bracket, each of said legs having a longitudinal slot receiving said pin, whereby the leg is swingable about the pin for selectively positioning the dowel in the socket to which the leg is attached.

5. A collapsible baby bed comprising a pair of telescopic sides and telescopic ends, said ends having hingedly connected sections, means pivotally attaching said sections to the sides, a pair of complementary bottom members hingedly carried by the sides, means for retaining the bottom members in aligned horizontal positions for supporting a mattress, means for locking said sides and ends in selected extended positions, supporting legs pivotally attached to the sides, means for selectively locking said legs in horizontal or vertical positions, said last means including supporting blocks fixed to the sides, each of said blocks being partially cut away to form a recess having straight walls in right angular relation, each of said walls having sockets formed therein, means pivotally attaching the upper ends of the legs in the recesses, dowels formed on the upper ends of the legs and selectively engageable in the sockets, said means pivotally attaching the legs including brackets fixed to the opposing sides of the blocks and projecting past the recesses, a pin transversely disposed through the projecting portion of each bracket, each of said legs having a longitudinal slot receiving said pin, whereby the leg is swingable about the pin for selectively positioning the dowel in the socket of the bracket to which the leg is attached, each of said blocks having a fiat bottom wall and the outer side surface of each leg being flush with the bottom wall of each block when the leg is in a horizontal position.

HARRY L. EHRENBERG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,039,868 Whitney Oct. 1, 1912 2,313,834 Mathaus Mar. 16, 1943 2,402,286 Jeary June 18, 1946 2,487,636 Churchwell Nov. 8, 1949 2,520,846 Maguire Aug. 29, 1950 

